Theft deterrent device

Abstract

A theft deterrent device includes a carrier having a pivotally mounted pin and an alarm tag for receiving the pin to secure the carrier and alarm tag together when secured on an item of merchandise by an adhesive pad on the carrier. Spaced electrical contacts within the alarm tag receive the pin therebetween to complete an electrical path to close an electrical circuit which turns the device on. The security device is configured to sound an onboard alarm in response to prying of the carrier from the alarm tag or cutting of the pin of the carrier, or if an EAS tag receives a wireless signal from a security gate. The carrier remains on the purchased merchandise for subsequent disposal after removal of the alarm tag from the carrier by the use of a magnetic key to unlock a locking mechanism which engages the pin.

1. A theft deterrent device comprising:
 a carrier adapted to be secured to an object; 
 a pin mounted on the carrier and moveable between an upstanding raised position and a retracted position; 
 an alarm tag removably securable to the carrier, said alarm tag containing an alarm system and a lock mechanism; 
 a first switch for controlling an alarm circuit in the alarm system; and 
 the lock mechanism being engageable with the pin when the pin is in the raised position to lock the alarm tag to the carrier. 
 
     
     
       2. The theft deterrent device defined in  claim 1  wherein the carrier has a bottom wall and in which the pin is substantially flush with said bottom wall when in the retracted position. 
     
     
       3. The theft deterrent device defined in  claim 1  wherein a cradle is formed on the carrier; and in which the pin is snap-fitted in the cradle to pivotally mount the pin on the carrier. 
     
     
       4. The theft deterrent device defined in  claim 1  wherein the lock mechanism includes a spring biased ball detent; and in which the pin is engaged with the ball detent when in the raised position to lock the alarm tag to the carrier. 
     
     
       5. The theft deterrent device defined in  claim 4  wherein the ball detent includes a magnetically attractable shuttle; and in which a magnetic key cooperates with the shuttle to unlock the lock mechanism enabling the alarm tag to be removed from the carrier. 
     
     
       6. The theft deterrent device defined in  claim 1  wherein the alarm tag includes the first switch; and in which the carrier pin actuates said first switch when the carrier is secured to the alarm tag. 
     
     
       7. The theft deterrent device defined in  claim 6  wherein the first switch includes a pair of spaced electrical contacts; and in which the pin is metallic and is slidably received between the spaced contacts to complete the electrical circuit. 
     
     
       8. The theft deterrent device defined in  claim 1  wherein the first switch is a plunger switch located in the alarm tag and engages the carrier when the alarm tag is secured to the carrier. 
     
     
       9. The theft deterrent device defined in  claim 8  wherein a projection is moveably mounted on the carrier and extends outwardly from a bottom wall of the carrier and engages the plunger switch when the alarm tag is attached to the carrier. 
     
     
       10. The theft deterrent device defined in  claim 1  wherein a pressure sensitive adhesive is attached to a bottom wall of the carrier for securing the carrier to the object. 
     
     
       11. A theft deterrent device comprising:
 a carrier adapted to be attached to an object without puncturing the object, said carrier having first and second switch actuation members; 
 an alarm tag removably securable to the carrier, said alarm tag having an alarm system, and first and second switches for arming the alarm system; and 
 said first switch actuation member completing a sense loop contained within the alarm tag when the carrier is removably secured to the alarm tag and a second switch actuation member actuating the second switch to arm the alarm system when the carrier and attached alarm tag are secured to the object. 
 
     
     
       12. The theft deterrent device defined in  claim 11  wherein the carrier has a bottom wall; in which the second switch actuation member includes an outwardly extending projection mounted on the bottom wall which aligns with the second switch when the alarm tag is mounted on the carrier. 
     
     
       13. The theft deterrent device defined in  claim 12  wherein the projection is formed on a flexible strip of material integrally formed in and extending along the bottom wall of the carrier. 
     
     
       14. The theft deterrent device defined in  claim 11  wherein the first switch actuation member is a pin pivotally mounted on the carrier. 
     
     
       15. The theft deterrent device defined in  claim 11  wherein the second switch is a plunger switch; and in which the plunger switch is depressed by a projection on the carrier when the carrier and alarm tag is secured to the object. 
     
     
       16. In combination, an object and a theft deterrent device attached to the object, wherein the theft deterrent device comprises:
 a carrier attached to the object without puncturing the object, said carrier having a pin mounted on the carrier and moveable between an upstanding raised position and a retracted position; and 
 an alarm tag removably securable to the carrier by engagement with the pin when said pin is in the upstanding raised position, said alarm tag having an alarm system and electrical circuitry having at least a first switch for controlling the alarm system when the carrier is removably secured to the alarm tag. 
 
     
     
       17. The combination defined in  claim 16  wherein the first switch includes a pair of spaced electrical contacts; and in which the pin completes an electrical circuit between the spaced contacts when the carrier is removably secured to the alarm tag. 
     
     
       18. The combination defined in  claim 16  wherein the electrical circuitry includes a second switch which is a plunger switch engageable with the carrier when the alarm tag is secured to the carrier. 
     
     
       19. The combination defined in  claim 16  including a lock mechanism locking the alarm tag on the carrier; in which said lock mechanism includes a spring biased ball detent in the alarm tag; and in which the pin engages the ball detent to lock the carrier to the alarm tag. 
     
     
       20. The combination defined in  claim 16  wherein the alarm system includes a battery supplying power to the electrical circuitry and an audible alarm. 
     
     
       21. A theft deterrent device comprising:
 a carrier adapted to be secured to an object; 
 a pin mounted on the carrier and moveable between an upstanding raised position and a retracted position; 
 a housing removably securable to the carrier, said housing containing electrical components and a lock mechanism; 
 at least a first switch in the housing; and 
 said lock mechanism being engageable with the pin when the pin is in the raised position to lock the housing to the carrier and to control the first switch for completing electrical continuity of the electrical components. 
 
     
     
       22. The theft deterrent device defined in  claim 21  wherein the pin is electrically conductive and passes between a pair of spaced contacts of the first switch to complete electrical continuity of the electrical components. 
     
     
       23. The theft deterrent device defined in  claim 21  wherein the electrical components include a battery and an alarm system.